Adjustable apron board



April 6 ,1926.

E. E. BERRY v ADJUSTABLE APRON BOARD Filed Dec. 15, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet1 April 6 1926.

E. E. BERRY ADJUSTABLE APRON BOARD 2119a Dec. 15, 192: 4 Sheets-Sheet 2e&H //v 4 Sheets-Sheet s 2 NM mm NM. mv 5 Q HQ G O Q O Q OTEOIQIQID QDIDID l u I mphi l 0 III, I

April 6 1926.

E. E. BERRY ADJUSTABLE APRON BOARD Filed Dec. 15, 1925 nil BhuatentedApr. 6 $926..

@FICE.

EqARL ELW'IN BERRY, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BELOIT IRON WORKS,0F BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

ADJTUSTABLE APR-0N BOARD.

Application filed December 15, 1923. Serial No. 680,824.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL E. BERRY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Beloit, in the county of Rock and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in anAdjustable Apron Board; and I hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to paper making machines and more particularly toa container comprising a sluice and flow box forming a part of the wet.end of the machine.

In the manufacture of paper the prepared pulp is delivered froma'bcating or refining engine and is diluted with water. The diluted pulpis then permitted to flow through a set of screens before entering aflow box from which the quantity of pulp flowin and the thickness of thepaper to be made, is regulated before flowing on to an endlesstravelling band of wire cloth from which the water is permitted todrain. In the paper making machines now in use difficulty is encounteredin obtaining a uniform thickness of paper due to the fact that thebottom board of the apron often warps or becomes distorted so that thethickness of the sheet of the diluted pulp flowing over the apronvaries, thereby tending to produce a sheet of paper of uneven thickness.

Experience has shown that due to irregularitiesand imperfections in thedesign of the head box, counter or eddy currents are set'u in the flowof the diluted pulp passing t rou h the head box on its way to theslices and apron. These eddy currents have a tendency to cause thefibres of the pulp tobunch up or clot, thereby producing a stock ofunequal density in different parts of the flow box. For a given flow boxthese streaks of different density occur I in substantially the sameplace for a given adjustment of a machine and thus cause a 'sheetofpaper to be formed of var ing thickness. Each individual paper mac inghas its own peculiaritiesin producting the counter or eddy currentsreferred to, said so that a paper of uniform thickness will be produced.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flow box with anadjustable apron lip which may be adjusted to so regulate the flow ofdiluted pulp onto the wire that a sheet of paper of uniform thicknesswill be formed across the entire width of the machine by causing a layerof lesser volume of pulp to pass onto the wire from the apron at thepoints of greater density caused by Ithe formation of eddy currents inthe head It is also an object of the invention to provide an apron whichis so constructed that the thickness of the sheet may be regulated aswell asthe width thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable lipfor the apron of a paper making machine in order that said lip may beadjusted transversely to permit a sheet of diluted pulp of uniformdensity or thickness to flow over the lip and beneath the slices on toan endless wire cloth.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a paper making machineapron with a lip having an adjusting mechanism connected therewithwhereby different portions of the lip may be adjusted to insure auniform thickness of a flow of pulp over the lip and beneath acontrolling slice.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an apron and aflexible lip therefor, said apron having a manually adjustable adjustlngdevice mounted thereon for independently adjusting different portions ofthe lip to insure a pulp flow of uniform thickness from beneath theslices.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal side elevation of a. paper making machinehead box and apron with the side removed and illustrating an adjustablelip and ad usting means embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the apron andadjustable lip adjusting mechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apron and slices.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on line 55 of Figure 2 with partsomitted.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 77 ofFigure 5.

As shown on the drawings The reference numeral 1 indicates a head boxprovided with a plurality of alternately arranged downwardly andupwardly directed transverse bailles or partitions 2 arranged so thatdiluted pulp entering the head box at 3 will flow through a circuitouspath below one ballle and over the next and then flow into an apronformed on one end of the head box 1 and of a depth approximately halfthat of the head box.

The apron comprises adjustable side walls 4 which rest upon an apronboard 5 having a downwardly directed integral flange 6 formed thereonand secured to a supporting block or beam 7. The apron board 5 isshorter than the side walls 4 and is recessed along the front edge at 8to receive one edge of a projecting flexible metal lip 9. The lowerfront portions of the apron side walls 4 are cut away and rest uponrubber strips 10 which movably rest upon the top of the lip 9. Retainingstrips 11 are secured to the outer sides of the side walls 4 and clampagainst flanges formed on said rubber strips 10 (Figure 2.).

A graduated scale 12 projects across the front edges of the side walls 4and has the ends thereof secured to upright bars 13 the lower ends ofwhich are bent at right angles and secured to the lip 9 to the outsideof the side walls 4. Secured to the outer side of the upper edge of eachside wall 4 is an angle bar 14 against which an adjusting screw 15engages. The adjusting screws 15 are threaded through a pair ofZ-brackets 16 secured upon the flanges 17 formed on the upper ends of apair of adjustable plates 18 forming slices. Bolted to the flange 17 ofone of the lates 18 is a plate 19 having a longitudina slot 20 thereinthrough which a set screw 21 projects and engages the flange 17 of theother plate to hold the plates 18 and the side walls 4 in an adjustedposition for producing a predetermined width of paper.

Secured to the bottom of the lip 9 are a plurality of straps 22 in thepocket of each of which one end of a fulcrunied lever 23 is engaged.Each lever 23 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 24 supported bya bracket 25 fastened to the bottom of the apron board 5 (Figure 5). Theinner end of each lever 23 is provided with a set screw 26 adapted tocontact the bottom of the apron board 5. Also threaded through athreaded aperture in the inner end of each fulcrumed lever 23 is theupper end of an adjusting screw 27 the lower plain portion of which isjournalled in a bearing sleeve 28 secured to the flange 6. A beveledgear 29 is fixed on the lower projecting end of each adjusting screw 27.

Rigidly secured to the flange 6 are a pair of channel brackets 30 onwhich a plate 31 is pivotally supported at 32. Integrally formed alongthe upper edge of the plate 31 is a channel 323 having bearing members34 fixed near the ends thereof. J ournalled in the bearing members 34 isa slotted shaft 35 having a hand wheel 36 fixed on one end thereof.Slidably feathered on the shaft 35 is a beveled gear 37 for coactionwith the beveled gears 29. The beveled gear 37 is adapted to be slidablymoved to different positions on the shaft 35 by means of forks 38 whichare connected to the upper lap of an endless chain 39 trained aroundsprockets 40. The sprockets 40 are supported on stub shafts 41 engagedin forked brackets 42 integrally formed on the ends of the pivoted plate31. Fixed on the projecting end of one of the stub shafts 41 is a handwheel 43. An indicating finger or pointer 44 is formed on one of theplate brackets 42 (Figure 2) with which indicating pins 45 on the lowerlap of the chain 30 are adapted to register to indicate that the gear 37is in mesh with a selected one of the beveled gears 29.

The reference numeral 40 (Figure 1) indicates a breast roll around whichan endless travelling band of wire cloth 47 is trained to receive thepulp from the lip 9.

The operation is as follows In the manufacture of paper the pulpdelivered from the beating or refining engine is diluted and issometimes first permitted to flow through a sand trap, then to thescreens and next into the head box 1 at the point 3. The pulp passesthrough the head box alternately below and above the baffles 2 and thenflows out over the apron board 5 and the adjustable lip 9. The sidewalls 4 of the apron are adapted to be moved toward or away from eachother when the set screw 21 is loosened to determine the width of theflow of the sheet of pulp passing over the apron board 5 and the lip 9.The adjustment of the side walls 4 determines the width of the paperbeing formed. By tightening the set screw 21 the side walls are held intheir adjusted positions. The slices 18 are slidable transversely oneupon the other when the side walls are being adjusted.

T 0 determine the thickness of the flow of pulp over the lip 9 on to theendless wire cloth band 47 the slices 18 are adapted to be raised orlowered by adjusting the screws 15. The space between the lip and thelower edge of the slice is thus adjusted to vary the weight of the paperbeing formed.

To insure a uniform thickness of stock the lip is flexible andadjustable transverse 1y by means of the improved adjusting mechanism ofthis invention. By means of the scale 12 the particular portion of thelip needing adjustment maybe selected and the corresponding adjustingscrew requiring ad just-ment selected. The plate 31 is then swung aboutits pivots 32 into the dotted line position of Figure 5. The hand wheel43 is then manually rotated thereby rotating the chain 39 causing theforks 38 thereon to slide the beveled gear 37 on the shaft 35 into aposition nearly in register with the particular beveled gear 29selected. This position may be easily determined by meansv of the pins45 and the indicating finger 44 on the bracket 42 (Figure 2). The plate31 is now swung back into normal vertical position and the hand wheel 43is again turned slightly to bring the gear 37 into mesh with therespective gear 29. By turning the hand wheel 36 the gear 37 rotates therespective gear 29 and the corresponding adjusting screw 27. Rotation ofthe adjusting screw 27 tends to swing the respective lever 23 about itspivot 24 whereby the outer end of the lever is either raised or lowereda predetermined amount to adjust the desired portion of the flexible lip9 that needs adjustment to insure a flow of stock of uniform thicknessor density to produce a paper of uniform weight across the sheet. Theset screw 26 may be set to act as a stop to limit the upward movement ofthe inner end of the respective lever 23. It will thus be noted that anyportion of the lip 9 may be adjusted so that the thickness or density ofthe flow of pulp over the lip and beneaththe slices will be unifornn Thewidth and thickness of the stream of stock flowing over the lip 9 ontothe wire 47 is thus readily controlled to determine the proper weight ofthe paper while the width of the paper is further governed by means ofdeckle straps which travel with the conveyor 47.

I am aware that many changes may be made. and numerous details ofvconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with an apron ofa papermaking machine, of a lip forming a part thereof and mechanisms connectedtherewith for independently adjusting the different portions of saidlip.

2. The combination with an apron of a paper making machine, of a lipforming a part of the bottom of said apron, a plurality of pivotallymounted members connected with said lip and means for independentlyadjusting said members to cause adjustment of different portions of saidlip.

3. In a paper making machine the combination with an apron, of .aflexible lip forming a part thereof, and means for independentlyadjusting different portions of the lip to insure a flow of stock ofuniform depth thereover.

4. In a paper making machine the combination with a head box,.of anapron formed thereon comprising an apron board, a lip supported thereon,adjustable side walls for said apron, a plurality of adjustingmechanisms connected with said lip and means for selectively operatingany one of said adjusting mechanisms to cause adjustment of selectedportions of the lip.

5. In a paper making machine the combination with a head box, of anapron formed thereon comprising an apron board, a lip supported thereonand projecting therefrom, adjustable side walls for said flow box,slidable slice plates between said side walls, means thereon to permitadjustment of the side walls with respect to one another, mechanisms foradjusting said slice plates with respect to the lip, and mechanismsconnected with the lip for adjusting difierent portions thereof toinsure a uniform thickness of stock thereover.

6. In a paper making machine an apron comprising an apron board, a lipsupported thereon and projecting therefrom, a plurality of leverspivoted intermediate their ends beneath the apron board, meansconnecting the outer ends of said lever to said lip, adjusting screwsconnected with the inner ends of said levers, gears on said adjustingscrews, 21 pivoted frame, a shaft thereon, a gear slidably keyed on saidshaft, means on said pivoted frame for moving said shaft gear intoengagement with a selected one of said adjusting screw gears, and a handwheel on said shaft for rotating the same to cause rotation of theselected adjusting screw and movement of the corresponding lever toadjust a selected portion of the lip.

7. In a paper making machine an apron nected to said lip, a plurality ofadjusting screws connected with said levers, set screws on said leversadapted to engage against said apron board, beveled gears on saidadjusting screws, a pivoted frame, a shaft journalled thereon, a beveledgear slidably keyed on said shaft, sprockets on said frame, a chaintrained around said sprockets, forks on said chain engaging said shaftgear, means for operating said chain to cause said shaft gear to beshifted into mesh with a selected one of said screw gears, and means onsaid shaft for rotating the same to cause the selected adjusting screwto actuate its respective lever to adjust a selected portion of the lip.

8. In a paper making machine an apron and an independently adjustablemember associated with the bottom thereof at the outer edge of saidapron.

9. In a paper making machine an apron comprising an apron board,adjustable side walls, anadjustable slice supported thereon, a lip onsaid apron board, a plurality of members fulcrumed on said apron boardand connected to said lip, and means for selectively operating saidfulcrumed members to adjust selected portions of said lip.

10. The combination with a paper making machine apron, of an apron boardand a lip associated therewith, a plurality of pivotally mounted membersconnected with said lip, screws for adjusting said members, gears onsaid screws, a pivoted frame, sprockets supported thereon, a chainengaging said sprockets, a shaft journalled over said frame, a gearslidable on said shaft and rotatable therewith, means for rotating theshaft, a hand wheel for rotating one of said sprockets to cause rotationof the chain, an indicator on said pivoted frame to position the gear onsaid shaft in a selected position to mesh with a gear on a selected oneof said adjusting screws.

11. In a paper making machine including the apron, slices and breastroll thereof, a flexible member extending from said apron over saidbreast roll and means for independently adjusting said member withrespect to said slices.

12. In a paper making machine including the apron, slices and breastroll thereof, a flexible member extending from said apron over saidbreast roll and means for independently adjusting said member atdifferent points along its width with respect to said slices.

13. In a paper making machine an apron having an independentlyadjustable lip.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

I EARL ELIVIN BERRY.

